Tag: SN9
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Starship SN10’s Raptors installed as testing begins
The three Raptor engines tasked with Starship’s third high altitude test flight have been installed into the aft of SN10. Pending acceptable results from an upcoming Static Fire test, SN10 will be tasked with repeating the flight of her deceased sisters, SN8 and SN9, before a landing attempt that will utilize a slightly different approach…
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Starship SN9 loses a Raptor during flip. RUD comes as future Starships line up
Starship SN9 is no more, following her successful flight and return, prior to losing a Raptor during the flip maneuver, resulting in a crash landing. As with SN8, SN9 got over the pad area and did not impact SN10 or any of the Ground Support Equipment at the Tank Farm. SN10 is expected to fly…
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Starship SN9 fails to gain FAA green light for Friday attempt
Starship SN9 will have to wait until at least Monday to conduct a 10 kilometer flight, following a continued denial from the FAA approval. The launch attempt comes after a series of Static Fire tests and preparations for its flight from Boca Chica – with the FAA the cause of the latest delay. SN9 “Final”…
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Starship SN9 speeds toward Static Fire and test flight
With Starship SN8’s test flight still fresh in the memory, SN9 is set to complete an accelerated pad flow with a Static Fire test and launch this coming week. A triple Raptor Static Fire test occurred Wednesday, although it appeared to be a shorter firing than required, thus a second Static Fire test is expected…
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Starship SN9’s time to shine – test series targets a New Year’s resolution
Starship SN9 is currently tracking an early New Years’ launch, providing the upcoming test series clears the path for what will be a similar flight to SN8, albeit aiming for a “softer” landing. With the vehicle on the launch mount, the first test will involve cryoproofing as early this week, ahead of a three engine…
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Starship SN9 rolled to launch site – Super Heavy construction ramps up
SpaceX Boca Chica is now transitioning towards the next launch campaign, with Starship SN9 rolled out to the launch site on Tuesday. There remains a slim chance SN9 will be ready to launch before the end of the year, repeating the flight profile that almost saw SN8 return in one piece. SN9’s campaign comes ahead…
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Starship SN8 successfully completes final testing ahead of flight
Following a slightly convoluted engine testing campaign, Starship SN8 is working through the final steps to finalize its pre-flight requirements, which included a triple Raptor Static Fire test on Tuesday. Should this test go to plan – via the results of the data review – the path will be cleared for SN8 to conduct a…
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Starship SN8 hoping for speedy return to testing as additional vehicles line up
Following Starship SN8’s eventful Static Fire test, it was feared the test flight would likely suffer from a lengthy delay. However, thanks in part to a burst disk that avoided a damaging “pop” scenario, SN8 may yet still fly to 50,000 feet this month, albeit with a realigned trio of Raptor engines. While repair work…
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As Starships line up, Musk calibrates expectations for SN8 test
Starship SN8 is expected to complete the second run of Static Fire tests over the coming week ahead of test flight later this month. While SN8 will be aiming for a touchdown on the launch pad, Elon Musk provided clarity on the primary goals of SN8’s flight – with a stable, controlled descent via its…
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Starship SN8 conducts milestone Static Fire test ahead of nosecone install
Starship SN8 has moved SpaceX through another major milestone with the first ever triple Raptor Static Fire test. Following two preburner tests over the last two nights, SpaceX recycled SN8 and fired up the engines to set the stage for nosecone’s installation – with a header tank – for a repeat test in around a…